UAE Lifts Ebola-Era Entry Restrictions on Ugandans

ABU DHABI, September 26, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates has announced that it is easing precautionary entry measures imposed on Ugandan nationals in June following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, after the country successfully completed the internationally established monitoring period for the disease.

The decision was announced Saturday by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

The measures were introduced on June 6 as part of the UAE’s response to the Ebola situation affecting Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.

According to the UAE authorities, the easing of measures for Uganda follows continued assessment of the epidemiological situation and the end of Uganda’s Ebola outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on August 27 that Uganda had ended its Ebola outbreak after completing 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case. The period is twice the upper limit of Ebola’s incubation period and is the internationally established benchmark for confirming that transmission linked to an outbreak has ended.

Uganda recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths during the 2026 outbreak. The outbreak was declared on May 15 after cases linked to transmission from the DRC were detected.

The UAE’s decision comes as a significant easing of travel-related measures for Ugandans, although authorities stressed that their response remains subject to continued monitoring.

Measures remain for DRC and South Sudan

While restrictions affecting Ugandan nationals are being eased, the UAE said precautionary measures applicable to nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan will remain in place because of the continuing epidemiological situation.

The DRC continues to face an active Ebola outbreak. WHO reported that the country had recorded thousands of confirmed cases and more than 1,500 deaths by the end of July, making the 2026 outbreak the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country.

The UAE authorities said precautionary measures will continue to be reviewed in line with developments and approved public-health standards.

Uganda maintains surveillance

Despite the formal end of the outbreak, WHO has stressed that Uganda remains exposed to the risk of imported Ebola cases because of ongoing transmission in neighbouring DRC and significant cross-border movement.

WHO and Africa CDC have therefore called for continued surveillance, preparedness and cross-border health measures even after Uganda’s outbreak was declared over.

The UAE’s easing of the measures signals a shift in its assessment of the public-health risk associated with travel from Uganda, while maintaining heightened precautions for countries where Ebola transmission remains active.